General FAQ

What is What’s Brewing?

What’s Brewing is a magazine about the craft beer movement in BC, Canada. It is a full-colour publication that is free of charge to view in digital format via Web or mobile app, using all types of devices from tablets to smartphones to desktop. It can also be found as a glossy magazine in numerous taprooms and craft beer outlets around BC. It can even be self-printed for offline reading, preferably alongside a nice pint.

WhatsBrewing.ca is its companion website, which supports the magazine, provides content in web format, as well as ongoing content, craft beer community news and announcements.

How long has it been around?

What is the magazine about?

What’s Brewing features great original beer writing from front to back. We feature craft beer community contributions and spotlight some of the best recent articles by BC beer bloggers and authors in order to help bring attention to the craft beer movement as well as the writing talent that exists in BC and Western Canada. WB also acts as a platform for BC craft beer community news and announcements.

I’m already plugged into the craft beer social community. How is this better than a bunch of links to beer blogs?

What’s Brewing is a magazine, and is therefore a different reading experience than blogs, status posts or tweets.

Blogs, many of which are fantastic, do absolutely no good if readers don’t remember to visit them and don’t have some type of feed that alerts them when new stories are waiting. Some folks are not monitoring beer blogs constantly, or may miss that timely Facebook post notifying them of a great story. WB works well for everyone who likes to read articles, especially those who prefer that stories worth reading are compiled and presented to them in a curated format.

Isn’t there already a BC Beer Magazine?

Not per se. There used to be a BC craft beer newspaper, and we miss it. There are also plenty of beer magazines that originate from south of the border, although they aren’t often found around these parts. Here in BC, we are fortunate to be the focus of a craft beer handbook, which we very much admire and treasure, and we’re not in any way wishing to compete with. But as for an actual journal or magazine, this is it. Hopefully we can all get behind it!

Where can people read it?

This very website features numerous links with which to view What’s Brewing:

In printed format in numerous taprooms and craft beer outlets around BC

I’m an advertiser and I need to know more about who is reading this and why I should advertise.

Do you make a profit? Where does the money go?

What’s Brewing is a community initiative business and is not about profit. Our goal is simply to be financially self-sustaining, so that BC can have its own Craft Beer Magazine. Revenues from advertising are directed toward printing and production costs.

If advertising revenue growth allows, our printed circulation will expand, allowing authors and advertisers to be seen by a greater audience, in turn stimulating further growth.

Do you need any help?

Now you’re talking. Of course we need contributors (see Author FAQ here). But we are also looking for like-minded community members who would like to plug in to our Web and social media properties and help spread the word about #craftbeer in BC. Anyone who wants to turn their passion for craft beer in a force for community benefit, hop on board. Write editor@whatsbrewing.ca.

FAQ for Writers and Contributors

Why would somebody write for What’s Brewing?

Craft beer is a lifestyle pursuit. One of the things that many people notice they like to do after making new beer discoveries is to share their thoughts. Modern social media makes simple sharing easily accessible, but sometimes people want to express a thought or story that requires more than a tweet, perhaps in the form of brewery reviews, tasting notes, travel stories, or even business, political or community beer news. This leads to “beer writing”.

It’s quite easy to become a blogger, but that doesn’t make it any simpler to gain an audience. Many potential bloggers don’t bother to get started, because there are already so many blogs and they’d have to make a huge noise in order for anyone but their close friends to notice. We have a platform which eases that burden.

If I send you something, will you use it?

Yes. We proudly maintain a 0% rejection rate. Fear not any lack of penmanship; our editors are happy to help in that regard.

How long should my article be?

As long as you like. We’ll handle it. However, a general guideline is that we can fit 600+ words per page.

What if I just want to submit a message or announcement?

WB originated as newsletter, and as such, has always provided a list of coming events and community goings-on. Are you a member or leader of a beer-related organization? Pass along any information you want made public and we’ll put it in.

Does it pay anything?

All contributors are providing material without financial compensation. Editorial staff is volunteer as well. See “where does the money go?“.

What if I’m a serious writer that is accustomed to being paid for my work?

We have been fortunate to enjoy many contributions from serious writers over the years, often because they chose to do so in the interest of sharing their thoughts and moving the BC craft beer scene forward. However, we understand that professional writers should generally not be asked to submit new, original content for free.

Happily, What’s Brewing works in a way that benefits professional writers and avoids putting a burden on them. WB acts as a quarterly digest that spotlights some of the best recent articles by BC beer bloggers and authors, reprinted by permission. We then provide links to the original sources so that they might get further traffic and recognition. We help bring attention to the insightful opinions and great writing talent that exists here in BC and Western Canada.

Do you make a profit? Where does the money go?

What’s Brewing is a community initiative business and is not about profit. Our goal is simply to be financially self-sustaining, so that BC can have its own Craft Beer Magazine. Revenues from advertising are directed toward printing and production costs.

If advertising revenue growth allows, our printed circulation will expand, allowing authors and advertisers to be seen by a greater audience, in turn stimulating further growth.